Page 36 - Living Light 87

Mission to Prisons
Sycamore Tree is a 6-session accredited
programme on victim awareness and restorative justice led by Prison Fellowship volunteers, who will have completed relevant training to be Group Facilitators and/or Course Tutors. The course takes place regularly in over 58 prisons.
Learners are encouraged to consider, discuss and explore the ripple effects of crime for themselves, their victims and the wider community, exploring how taking responsibility for personal actions can bring about reconciliation, forgiveness and the desire to change.
UPCOMING NCT EVENTS
I have witnessed each small group of
Sycamore Tree learners progress from being DECEMBER
wary, distrusting and unwilling to talk about themselves to becoming engaging participants with a vision for positive change. Within a confidential setting, where trust and understanding is paramount among both the learners and the PF team, they are encouraged to look into their past through the lens of ‘restoration’. Such sharing within the group, listening to victim stories and meeting a victim of crime who is willing to tell his/her own story in a candid, non-judgemental way, helps them accept they can forgive themselves and take that positivity into the future.
Through participation as a Group Facilitator at HMP Hollesley Bay, and encouragement to train as a Tutor, I have helped deliver this course since 2018.
I am ‘blown away’ by the change of response that is seen in the learners from their initial caution in Session One, to their willingness to stand up in front of their peers, prison staff and Governors in Session Six and profess their desire to symbolically apologise to their victim/s, families, and local community, in such heart- touching ways.
The course is not faith-based, but as the name suggests is based on Zacchaeus’ response to his encounter with Jesus, delivered by those whose trust and dependence upon God is evident to all. It is my privilege to be part of this programme.
Gail Butler
PF Sycamore Tree volunteer
10th Chris Hill’s seminar
16th Time out with God – Ruth Conlon 18th Carol service
JANUARY
20th Time out with God – Chris Hill 21st Chris Hill’s seminar
25th Men’s Breakfast – Simon Gillebaud
FEBRUARY
10th Time out with God – Chris Hill 11th Chris Hill’s seminar
13th Ladies’ Day – Ellie Gage
YOUR LETTERS
Mr E. Essex. “It’s certainly enriched my Christian walk.”
Mr B. Glasgow. “We do enjoy Living Light and benefit from the daily Bible Insights from the various writers.”
Ms P. “Thank you so much for the booklets I get so much out of them.”
Ms D. We are indeed very blessed to read Living Light notes daily and sometimes use them at our homegroup, they are always relevant. Amazing!”
34